Odisha doctor couple murder: cops zero in on prime suspect

Twin City police are inching towards cracking the murder mystery of a retired doctor couple in Odisha capital that took place last Sunday.

The former domestic help, her husband and two other accomplices are suspected to have committed the crime with an intention of robbery, a source said on conditions on anonymity.

The domestic help identified as Sanju (name changed) was employed at Dr Prafulla Chandra Mishra’s residence at VIM 608 in Sailashree Vihar under Chandrasekharpur police station limits since last five years. However, the employer sacked her nearly a month ago due to some reasons.

After the spine chilling incident two days ago, Commissionerate Police detained nine suspects, including Sanju, her husband, a car driver and an autorickshaw driver, for questioning.

As per a source, the former maid has confessed to her involvement in the crime and spilled the beans on the crime plot. Following this, police also rounded up her husband who runs a betel shop in the area.

An investigative team of the Commissionerate Police have left for Phulbani yesterday in search of two more suspects, who are said to be the acquaintances of Sanju’s husband.

Police suspect that at least four persons had broke into Dr Mishra’s residence with loot motive in the wee hours on Sunday when the couple was away to offer early morning prayers at a nearby Jagannath Temple. The pair was visiting the temple regularly as it is the month of holy Kartik.

Preliminary estimate reveals that the robbers decamped with around Rs 30, 000 cash, 50 gm gold and a mobile phone, among other things.

The burglars would have encountered the couple on their return from the temple after which they would have committed the crime fearing to be exposed, the source speculated.

The post mortem report revealed that Prafulla was first strangulated to death and then the assailants eliminated Sushama by hitting hard on her head with an iron object.

On the day of the murder, forensic and scientific team had reached the spot for investigation. The fingerprint analysis revealed that at least four persons were involved in the crime.

The CCTV footage procured from a device installed near Mishra’s residence revealed that four persons had entered the house. However, none of them were seen coming out of it. The footprint study too corroborated it that the criminals escaped from the rear end of the house by jumping the perimeter wall.

Meanwhile, the cops are verifying the call details of the phone used by the doctor couple which the killers have taken away with them. The police expect the call records to provide vital lead in cracking the murder mystery.